Anion-Binding Catalysis

1From Anion Recognition to Organocatalytic Chemical Reactions

Friedemann Dressler and Peter R. Schreiner

Justus Liebig University, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heinrich‐Buff‐Ring 17, 35392 Giessen, Germany

1.1 Introduction and Background

Non‐covalent organocatalysis [1–14] utilizes small organic molecules for the activation of substrates through hydrogen bonding (“partial protonation”) to neutral or negatively charged (anion‐binding) electron lone pairs. This catalytic concept mimics nature where non‐covalent interactions (NCIs) are ubiquitous and essential for many processes essential to life [15], e.g., through catalyzing many biochemical reactions [16–18]. NCIs empower enzymes with the high selectivity in substrate recognition, activation, ...